This weeks craving: something.... anything healthy that would make me feel betterThis weeks aversion: I ignored aversions because I desperately wanted to feel better

MONDAY- 75 minutes of Yoga: At Metrowest Yoga. This session I did with my sister Caroline. Last week I felt locked into each pose, this week I wasn't able to get focused and felt out of balance. Perhaps it was a sign of what was to come. Bathroom Breaks: 1

TUESDAY- 6.5 miles with Fartlek 54:00: Sticking with the recommendation of James McKirdy of McKirdy Trained , I did another fartlek. This time the weather was much nicer so I had more flexibility with where I ran. I stayed close to home in Spencer. I told myself it was going to be "the quickest fartlek ever, because who the F cares? I'm pregnant! Why am I doing this!?"... But I got out there and got in a groove. I stuck with a hilly route knowing that I wanted to race the Amherst (Jones) 10 miler. My pace range was between 5:31-6:47 and my longest interval was just over 2 minutes. I intentionally attacked hard ups and hard downs in race preparation. I'm a masochist.Bathroom Breaks: 0

WEDNESDAY- OFF: Raea came down with a 103 fever at 11:30ish Tuesday night. Blindsided with this I got no sleep and spent the whole day Wednesday snuggling her and washing my hands trying to avoid getting sick myself. We took her to the Doctors and he said if she starts to get a cough it's most likely the flu. Well the cough shortly followed... and then I was like "well, I'm fucked..." I thought best to not do the treadmill at night because the only chance I had at fighting anything off was to avoid any extra stress on my body.... and we all know how much the treadmill stresses me out! I worried about both of my babies. #failBathroom Breaks: All damn day!

THURSDAY- 3.6 walk 1:00 with Chrissy: Raea was full of energy and I still felt okay! It was in the 60's again so I couldn't sit in the house another day! I met Chrissy for a walk instead of a run. The fresh air seemed to serve Raea and I well. She seemed like her normal self!Bathroom Breaks: 1

FRIDAY- 0 miles, vomiting the night before: Well, I got sick after all, but throwing up was a strange relief... I think it had more to do with heartburn from eating many meals with an 18 month old on my chest, at least this is what I tell myself because I refuse to believe I'm sick! (but I'm totally sick at this point) Aches and fatigue were the worst, and then Raea who was seemingly better than I was took a huge chunk of my energy so I wasn't exactly resting. Matt was away most of the day (although he did come home early to help me out) so it was tough. By the end of the day I felt much better... but again, why would I run? It was beautiful so I let Raea play in the backyard and get some energy out while I sat in a chair lazily and snapped pictures since she was so cute! I was just happy she was better, but I worry about my baby #2.Bathroom Breaks: Other than the vomit?... ​

SATURDAY- 12 minutes with Jane for her Cool down. I felt better. Raea felt better. I called and asked my moms opinion (she has 8 kids) and she confirmed that it would probably be good for Raea and I to get out of the house. We had been fever free since Wednesday afternoon. We headed into Boston and watched my sister Jane's Conference meet.... painful to watch, but there are lessons learned in all the bad races, too! A lot of old memories from my own college failures arose. Those were the best and worst times in my racing career. Hard to see my sister heartbroken in the same way. Raea seemed back to her normal self, though! Phew!Bathroom Breaks:0 during run.

​SUNDAY- 0 miles: We went to spectate the Amherst 10 miler, and unexpectedly Raea began crying while I was a mile out from the finish. This kid never cries and she was hysterical. #momguilt .... I'm not winning mom of the Year anytime soon, stupid decision, live and learn. She's the type of kid who wants to go places, and I'm not a mind reader...althought it was too late to go home, it was clear she that's where she wanted to be... and I wish we had just stayed home because I missed the whole race. The team did well considering I wasn't able to run and we've had a few people holding off until closer to Boston. Fortunately Raea loves my mom so much she was happy to go to lunch because other wise we would have starved on the ride home. I was planning on running when I got home but some crying began again and I was reminded me that even though we both MOSTLY feel better, I shouldn't be pushing her OR myself this hard. Another day off, and I have to be okay with that. I talked to one of my mom Role Models, Christin Doneski, today. She walked through all of her pregnancies instead of run, and she's in her late 40's and I'm having a good day if I'm able to beat her. A REALLY good day. So I'd say I'm in good company taking a week off of running.... or two... or 40... who cares? I'll just do the best I can.

**TOTAL MILES: 11.5ish** Killin' it! (sarcasm)

Additional Training: Kinetic Revolution Phase 4. I did this on Saturday Night and that was it.

Lessons Learned:1. I felt my baby move! Only a little earlier than Raea, but Phew! Thing is still alive after this week!2. I have two babies to worry about now3. Raea doesn't always know what she wants. Just because she's putting on her coat, doesn't mean she wants to be outside.

Looking Forward To: Raea's cough being 100% gone, and me feeling 100% again as well

This weeks craving: PEANUT BUTTER! which I can never have again. So. Not. FAIR!This weeks aversion: Broccoli. Yuck! I just can't with that smell!

MONDAY- 75 minutes of Yoga: I signed up for the 30 days for $30 at Metrowest Yoga in Worcester, Ma where I work and where I'm from. I went to a 75 minute class with my mom. This helped my recovery significantly! I had rolled my ankle during week 12, and this really seemed to address some of the tightness.Bathroom Breaks: 2

TUESDAY- 7 miles with Fartlek 58:35: I plan on hiring James McKirdy of McKirdy Trained to coach me when I'm no longer growing a human, he suggested doing fartleks for workouts. The idea is that there is no pace to worry about and no set distance to worry about. Just get out and give it what I have on that day and let the chips fall where they do. I was surprised to feel as good as I did! My pickups were between 37 seconds and 1:12 long The pace range was between 5:27-6:37. I was very pleased! .... but don't be fooled, I felt the bump a lot more for this than any easy run so far!Bathroom Breaks: 2 during warm up and cool down

WEDNESDAY- 3.2 Miles with my Brother 24:36: Feeling rather lazy, when I saw my brother was ready to run I tried not to think about it and just sucked it up and headed out the door. Little did I know his "slow" was going to be pretty damn fast for me. 7:35 pace. Tired.Bathroom Breaks: 0

THURSDAY- 7 Miles at Sneakerama 1:03:43: I got to the fun run early to put in a few miles before the fun run started... Then I ran with Barbara from CMS. We just ran easy and discussed USATF team woes. She gets me. There was cake after. Everything is better with cake.Bathroom Breaks: 1

FRIDAY- 5.1 progression miles with Stroller 40:17: With my husband gone until late Saturday night, my option on Friday is the stroller... and in the winter that option is even less fun because there are way less safe places to push a stroller with all the snow. I looped the school parking lot a bunch of times. I listened to music in one ear which is rather new for me. I NEVER do the music thing, but with all the loops I thought I'd try it out. Progression: 8:51, 8:12, 7:52, 7:35, 7:05, 6:27 (last .1)Bathroom Breaks: 0

SATURDAY- 8 miles 1:09:18: It was really beautiful out! I was tired. I didn't want to run, but since it was nice I forced myself out the door for whatever I could handle. 1 mile turned to 2 turned to 8. Hilly but took it slow. It was now that I realized how much I love my Cloud Flows. Pace: 8:40Bathroom Breaks:1

SUNDAY-10 Miles Team long run 1:22:30: I felt pretty crappy for most of this, but mostly the way back into the headwind. My wrist was tired from pushing the stroller and I was hungry. It was also pretty warm and I got thirsty... I had water but felt like that wasn't enough. I was just really happy to get back and eat.Bathroom Breaks: 1

**TOTAL MILES: 40.4** The most miles weekly I've run in pregnancy EVER (including when I didn't know!)

Lessons Learned:1. I can do hard things. This week was hard, but I did it.2. Someday's are going to feel like normal non-pregnancy days... and some days you have to walk and It's OKAY!3. I need to eat A LOT more!

Looking Forward To: Warm weather! We are getting a taste of it, but I will not be fooled! Spring doesn't come until after the Boston Marathon around here!

Week 3-I first found out I was pregnant. I had a hunch earlier as this was planned and I was really tired... but on the day my Father-In-Law died I took a positive test. Mixed emotions for sure. Both of us happy about the baby, but a bit of sadness knowing Matts dad would never be there to meet baby number 2. We also just found out Matt will start a new job on January 1st.Total Miles: 38.7

Week 4-A very busy week. Wake, Funeral, and all the prep work for that, plus moving the Nationals flight and Nationals. I got sick. Not quite morning sickness sick (although food aversions and adverse smells were picking up speed) I had a really bad cold.Total Miles: 18.5

Week 5- I did as much resting as possible while doing assessments for report cards. I basically hate all food, but did the best I could to eat. Not running because I'm taking the time after Nationals to recover. The timing works out well with pregnancy.Total Miles: 0

Week 6- Other than work obligations, more resting. Much needed! What's nice is that I timed the running rest well with the necessary first trimester rest and with the Holidays.Total Miles: 9.8

Week 7- Christmas break! Not as much resting and basically all I could eat was saltines, white rice, and potatoes without running to the bathroom. Surprised no one caught on... maybe they did?Total Miles: 11

Week 8: New Year, New Goals. My goal is 5 x of

cardio per week and three times of stability/strength training. Off to a good start. Still eating Saltines. Matts new job started, so this week I was a single parent He had to travel for trainingTotal Miles: 27.9

Week 9- Badly hurt my piriformis muscle. Matt thought he needed to call the Ambulance because at one point I couldn't stand up. NO MORE AMBULANCE RIDES! Went to the chiropractor a few times. PHEW! Eating a little more. Barely. But more due to aversion rather than sicknessTotal Miles: 23.4

Week 10- More traveling for Matt, so some days on the treadmill really late at night. Glute MUCH better Sunday was my first real long run...10 miles with teammates!Total Miles: 35.4​

Week 11- I struggled to recover from the 10 miler. Wow, I need to eat massive amount after long runs! I took two days off from running. Lesson learned. Just tired, and slightly regretting my commitment to training through pregnancy. I contacted a coach for after pregnancy and no I feel like I MUST hold myself to this standard. I'm waiting anxiously for my first appointment.Total Miles: 32.8

Week 12- FINALLY baby heartbeat! Wanted nothing to do with running this week... but somehow still managed a good week. Long run of 14 miles was probably too much though.Total Miles- 36.3

Week 13- Lots of snow. Slow miles, and walking on the treadmill. Matt travelling with the weather was stressful, but we both still managed.Long Run was 12 miles. Future coach suggested focusing on minutes over miles and fartlek workouts.

Hello!

Welcome to my blog! I blogged my entire pregnancy in 2017 and I had high hopes for where I could take my running after baby number 2, but my body had other plans. At some point I got too discouraged to write and recently realized that it is essential for my personal growth and development to keep putting feelings into coherent(ish) thoughts. I still hope to run sub 2:45 in the marathon one day, but for now I’m trying to focus on the process and I’m learning to enjoy it. You can come along for the ride, apologies in advance for grammatical incorrectness!